Thinking Globally, Acting on Mobile

One of the Federal Communications Commission’s biggest challenges is to make sure our rules and policies evolve to reflect major changes in the communications and technology landscape. Two of the biggest developments of the digital age are that the economy has gone global and everything is going mobile. I’m circulating two items to boost US competitiveness in our global economy by removing barriers to private investment and unleashing mobile innovation.

1. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is an important step toward creating an environment for this next generation of wireless to develop, take hold, and explode across the United States. This NPRM proposes a framework for flexible spectrum use rules for bands above 24 GHz, including for mobile broadband use. Promoting flexible, dynamic spectrum use has been the bedrock that has helped the United States become a world leader in wireless.
2. The second is a proposal that builds on the 2013 Broadcast Clarification Order by modernizing the processes for broadcasters to demonstrate compliance with foreign ownership rules. In particular, the NPRM seeks comment on simplifying the foreign ownership approval process for broadcast licensees by extending the rules and procedures that currently apply to other classes of licensees to broadcast licensees. As a result, the proposed rules will update the filing and review process – all so it is better adapted to the current business environment – while at the same time preserving the Commission’s case-by-case public interest review and national security protections.